Dead geese and ducks found along Chagrin River likely shot before they were dumped

Dozens of dead geese and ducks were found Jan. 2 in the Cleveland Metroparks South Chagrin Reservation, on the banks of the Chagrin River upstream from this waterfall. They were likely killed on private property then trucked to the park.Courtesy Cleveland Metroparks

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio Department of Natural Resources is now reporting that 40 dead waterfowl may have been shot before they were dumped along the banks of the Chagrin River two weeks ago.

Jamie Emmert, a spokeswoman for ODNR's Division of Wildlife in Akron, said the state agency sent two Canada geese and two mallards to Wisconsin for testing. The examinations confirmed that three of the four birds suffered gunshot wounds.

She said the agency is inferring that all 10 ducks and 30 geese died that way. The wounds were not immediately apparent because the birds were frozen solid when they were discovered. Investigators still are awaiting toxicology results.

Cleveland Metroparks rangers are working with the state because the riverbank where the birds were found is in the Metroparks' South Chagrin Reservation in Bentleyville.

Jesse Janosik, a state wildlife officer, said earlier this month that investigators found the birds about 2 p.m. on Jan. 2 after receiving a call from The Plain Dealer. At the time he thought they had been strangled.

There was evidence that a truck backed up at the site where the birds were found and then drove away, probably after dumping the dead waterfowl. Neither the tire tracks nor the birds had been obscured by snowfall, indicating that they had been killed within days of their discovery. The big snowfall had occurred the previous weekend.

Janosik said whoever killed the geese and ducks probably considered them nuisance animals. People cannot just go after nuisance animals on their own, he said. Property owners can apply for nuisance permits, but the preferred control methods involve harassing the animals and driving them off, not killing them.

Anyone with information should call the state 1-800-POACHER (1-800-762-2437) tipline or the rangers' nonemergency line: 440-331-5530.

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